His specialty is birds of prey, and one of an eagle in flight, entitled "From Up Here," is being made available for purchase as part of the foundation fundraiser.

He said he has been visiting the Santa Rosa Plateau for years to run, hike and ride his mountain bike, and still visits regularly.

"That whole thing up there is unbelievable," Casson said, "unbelievable. I wish people appreciated more what that really is. To have an 8,000-acre preserve like that, in the most beautiful rolling oak hill country."

"The plateau is quite rare."

Casson feels the same way about the foundation's youth programs, which Greaves said cost about $100,000 a year to run.

"Some of those kids are going to catch a spark," he said, "and it will stay with them. It will be a good thing."